MetroHealth Treats Hundreds of People During the Minority Men’s Health Fair

Hundreds of people were seen by MetroHealth caregivers and screened for ailments such as diabetes and high blood pressure during Thursday evening’s Minority Men’s Health Fair.

The Minority Men’s Health Fair was started 18 years ago by Dr. Charles Modlin. This was the first time the health education and screening event was hosted by The MetroHealth System.

The Minority Men’s Health Fair took place at three MetroHealth locations: Main Campus, the Cleveland Heights Medical Center and the Broadway Health Center.

Dr. Modlin created the free health fair to address disproportionate disease rates in African-American men. Research clearly shows fatality rates decrease with early detection of preventable diseases early.

“Tonight’s event was a success,” said Dr. Modlin, MetroHealth’s Medical Director for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. “We spoke with and screened several hundred people, and that will translate saving and improving the quality of life for those most often burdened by health disparities. This night is a testament to the power of partnership, with volunteers, community organizations and other partners helping us improve our community.”

The fair was free and open to everyone, regardless of gender or race. It offered education and screenings for issues prevalent in minorities, such as prostate cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, skin cancer, mental health, low dose CT lung cancer, hepatitis, vitamin D deficiency, neurology and other conditions.

“MetroHealth’s board and leadership team are excited and proud to host the Minority Men’s Health Fair, which offers hope, health and humanity to those in our community who might be hesitant to come into a doctor’s office,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD. “For 18 years, this fair has shined the spotlight on the importance of health and well-being. And it’s another way that we go into neighborhoods to bring care to neighbors who need it most.”

Cleveland resident Paula P.C. Bryant heard about the health fair at her church and was reminded about it again by a billboard at the end of her street. She and her husband Jerome attended the fair at the Broadway location.

“There were just so many screenings that they have, things that normally wouldn’t get checked out,” she said. “So I said to my husband, why don’t we go?”

“This makes me feel better about his health,” she said.

“It’s cool,” Jerome Bryant said. “Because I’m not getting any younger. It’s a good thing that they have these programs.”

Ruben Shelton came to the Main Campus fair after seeing a billboard and hearing about it in the news. He came because he wanted to get a few things examined.

“It's been awhile since I had my last physical,” Shelton said. “It's free, so why not? I want to make sure everything is good. I feel OK, but you never know."

Clifford Reynolds, 84, of East Cleveland, is a prostate cancer survivor. He has attended previous Minority Men’s Health Fairs and plans to be back next year.

“I mainly came out today to check my PSA,” he said. “Everything went well.”

David Blackshire, 54, of Cleveland, said: “I just love what this is providing for minority men. A lot of times, the cost keeps people from going to the doctor. You don’t get things done just because of the cost.

“And I just love what Dr. Modlin is doing,” Blackshire said.

Among the partners who helped make the Minority Men’s Health Fair a success were the First Energy Foundation, the Saint Luke’s Foundation, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Genentech and Boston Scientific/ASM.

For more information, go to: https://www.metrohealth.org/mmhf.

Find downloadable broll here: MetroHealth_MMHF_Broll.mp4 (vimeo.com)